Whether you're hosting a party or bringing a dish to pass, these potluck dessert recipes are real crowd-pleasers.
63 Potluck Desserts to Feed a Crowd
Updated on Sep. 23, 2024
Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake
When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I’m bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don’t have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas.
Looking for the best desserts? These recipes got the highest ratings and the most visitors this year. Add them to your to-bake list for the year ahead.
1/63
2/63
Magic Cookie Bars
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 bars
From the Recipe Creator:
These rich bar cookies will melt in your mouth! They’re ideal to have on hand for a snack. —Pauline Schrag, Theresa, New York
3/63
Rainbow Jello Cubes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These perky gelatin cubes are fun to serve and to eat! I vary the colors to match the occasion—pink and blue for a baby shower, school colors for a graduation party, and so on. Kids of all ages snap them up. —Deanna Pietrowicz, Bridgeport, Connecticut
4/63
Carrot Blueberry Cupcakes
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 cupcakes
From the Recipe Creator:
Carrots, blueberries, pineapple and zucchini make an interesting and delicious combination in these unique little treats.—Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
5/63
Amish Sugar Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I’ve passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri. Learn how to make potluck desserts with packaged cookies.
6/63
Banana Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
7/63
Lemon Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone raves about this pretty lemon sour cream pound cake—and it sure doesn't last long with my family. It also freezes beautifully, so why not make two and pop one into the freezer for another day? —Annettia Mounger, Kansas City, Missouri
8/63
Peanut Butter Cake Bars
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cakelike bars are packed with peanut butter and chocolate chips, and they're perfect for any occasion. Kids and adults alike are in for a treat with these gems. —Charlotte Ennis, Lake Arthur, New Mexico
9/63
The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone has a favorite type of chocolate chip cookie—a little crispy, a little chewy—but they all have to begin with a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. This is the best place to start! —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
10/63
Oreo Brownies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You won't want to frost these brownies, since the marbled top is too pretty to cover up. Besides, the indulgent cream cheese layer makes them taste as if they're already frosted. The crushed cookies add extra chocolate flavor and a fun crunch. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
11/63
Pear Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
12/63
Chocolate Peanut Treats
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was in high school, I took these sweet and crunchy squares to bake sales— and they were the first to sell out. I still make them for family and friends who love the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Christy Asher, Colorado Springs, Colorado
13/63
Oreo Cupcakes
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids and adults alike will find these Oreo cupcakes irresistible. If you want to pipe the frosting, be sure to thoroughly crush the cookies. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
14/63
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I baked these moist, fudgy cookies for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
15/63
Cherry Cheese Cupcakes
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These pretty cream cheese cups that look like cupcakes are always my home-baked contribution to our church's Christmas party. The holidays inspired the cheery garnish of cherries, and I often add mint leaves for even more seasonal color. —Leanne Beagley, Rochester, New York
16/63
Jelly Donut Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cake. Doughnuts. Now you don't have to choose between the two. Impress your family with this easy jelly-filled cake. Try your best to center the jelly in the middle of the half-filled Bundt pan so that it will not leak out the edges of the cake.—Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
17/63
Rhubarb Crisp
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe on a box of Quaker Oats about 20 years ago. It's quick and easier to make than pie. It's versatile, too, because you can add strawberries in spring or apples in fall. I usually pop it into the oven shortly before we sit down to eat so it's still warm for dessert! —C.E. Adams, Charlestown, New Hampshire
18/63
Fudge-Topped Brownies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
If you love brownies and fudge, why not combine the two? Mix up a pan of these exquisite brownies for any holiday or special gathering—or just when you want to treat yourself to the ultimate chocolate dessert.
—Judy Olson, Whitecourt, Alberta
19/63
Luscious Almond Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe along with a set of springform pans from a cousin at my wedding shower 11 years ago. It makes a heavenly cheesecake. My son Tommy has already told me he wants it again for his birthday cake this year. —Brenda Clifford, Overland Park, Kansas
20/63
Nutty Cheesecake Squares
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up on a farm and have had a lot of good recipes handed down to me. This is one of my favorite desserts to serve when guests come over or at family gatherings and church suppers. —Ruth Simon, Buffalo, New York
21/63
Aunt Rose’s Fantastic Butter Toffee
Total Time
40 min
Servings
32 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
I don't live in the country, but I love everything about it—especially good old-fashioned home cooking! Every year, you'll find me at our county fair, entering a different contest. This easy toffee recipe is a family favorite. —Kathy Dorman, Snover, Michigan
22/63
Crispy Chocolate Squares
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks will think you slaved away on these fast and fudgy treats. People often request the recipe and are surprised to find out how easy they are to make. Even kids can make 'em! —Karen Speidel, Wheeling, Illinois
23/63
Cranberry Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Every year when the cranberries are harvested, my family looks forward to eating this cheesecake. —Nairda Monroe, Webberville, Michigan
24/63
M&M Oat Bars
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These irresistible bars can sweeten any holiday. —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota
25/63
Chocolate Pudding Pizza
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister Brenda and I made up this recipe while talking on the phone. My family loved the classic pairing of chocolate and peanut butter presented in a whole new way. —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
26/63
Brownie Mocha Trifle
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
By using instant pudding and a convenient box of brownie mix, there's nothing to the preparation. The result is moist and chewy. And the layers look so pretty spooned into a glass trifle bowl. —Louise Fauth, Foremost, Alberta
27/63
Pecan Pie Bars
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars are decadently rich—just like pecan pie! They’re sure to disappear from the dessert table at your next gathering, so you might want to save one for later before putting them out. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York
28/63
Cherry Chewbilees
Total Time
55 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a good dish to carry to potlucks and parties. It's a hit at home, too - my husband rates it as one of his favorite desserts. —Debbi Smith, Crossett, Arkansas
29/63
Pineapple Sheet Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This sheet cake is perfect for serving to a crowd. It keeps so well that you can easily prepare it a day ahead and it will stay moist. I often bring it to church potlucks, and I have yet to take much of it home. —Kim Miller Spiek, Sarasota, Florida
30/63
Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These rich, fudgy cookies are chewy and studded with tangy dried cherries. It’s a good thing the recipe makes only a small batch, because we eat them all in one night! —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
31/63
Chocolate Pecan Caramels
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 6-3/4 dozen (1-1/2 pounds)
From the Recipe Creator:
I haven't missed a year making this candy for the holidays since a friend gave me the recipe in 1964! It is made like a pan of upside-down bars and tastes like my favorite caramel pecan candies. We are natives of the Lone Star State who moved to Ohio when my husband was transferred several years ago. —June Humphrey, Strongsville, Ohio
32/63
Lemon Snowflakes
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll need just four ingredients to make these delightful lemon snowflake cookies. Confectioners’ sugar highlights the cracked tops to give them their snowflake appearance. —Linda Barry, Dianna, Texas
33/63
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan
34/63
Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When she got married, my mother insisted my grandmother write down one recipe for her. Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used a little of this or that until it felt right. This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
35/63
Cherry Pie Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
36/63
Irish Creme Chocolate Trifle
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was given a bottle of Irish cream liqueur as a gift and had leftover peppermint candy, so I created this delicious trifle. It's always rich and decadent. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
37/63
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our daughter first astounded us with her cooking talents when she made this cheesecake at 13 years of age. With a unique cookie crumb crust and extra-creamy filling, people think this dessert was made by a gourmet baker!
—Kathleen Gualano, Cary, Illinois
38/63
Crispy Pretzel Bars
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I often make a big batch of these peanut butter-flavored cereal bars on days that I don't want to heat up the kitchen. Kids especially love them, so they're great for picnics, potlucks and school bake sales. —Jane Thompson, Eureka, Illinois
39/63
Caramel Brownies
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to cook. My family can't possibly eat all the sweets I whip up, so my co-workers are more than happy to sample them—particularly these rich, chewy caramel brownies that are full of gooey caramel, chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts. —Clara Bakke, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
40/63
Butter Pecan Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
Pecans and butter give this cake the same irresistible flavor as the ever-popular butter pecan ice cream flavor. —Becky Miller, Tallahassee, Florida
41/63
Snowball Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sweet, nutty pecan meltaways recipe is a tradition in our house at Christmastime, but the treats are delightful any time of the year. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
42/63
Broadway Brownie Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I named these dessert bars for Broadway because they're a hit every time I serve them. I especially like to make them as a gift for anyone with a sweet tooth! —Anne Frederick, New Hartford, New York
43/63
Shortbread
Total Time
25 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I live in Missouri, but many of our family recipes come from New Zealand, where I lived as a youngster. I proudly claim a Down Under heritage! These special-occasion cookies bring back warm and sweet memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family—no matter where they live. —A. Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri
44/63
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars make an excellent fall dessert. We like to warm individual servings in the microwave and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It quickly became a family favorite; maybe it'll become one of your family's, too. —Carol Stuber, Osawatomie, Kansas
45/63
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loves homemade treats, and these easy peanut butter oatmeal cookies
are probably his favorite. The wheat flour and oats give these cookies a distinctive flavor.
46/63
Rhubarb Bars
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Dreaming of a different way to use rhubarb? Try these sweet bars with a tender shortbread-like crust topped with rhubarb, walnuts and coconut for delicious results. —Marion Tomlinson, Madison, Wisconsin
47/63
Apple Slab Pie
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple slab pie is a terrific contribution to a covered-dish supper, picnic or potluck. It’s baked in a large 15x10 baking pan so it’s easy to make and tote, too. But be prepared—people always ask for a copy of the recipe! —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
48/63
Double Chocolate Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I make these yummy treats with my young grandson, Ben, I use an extra-big mixing bowl to prevent the flour and other ingredients from flying all over. He seems to enjoy making the cookies almost as much as eating them!—Chantal Cornwall, Prince Rupert, British Columbia
49/63
Frosted Spice Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe has been handed down through many generations of my husband's family. The cookies were always in his grandmother's cookie jar when he'd visit. Today, he enjoys them more than ever—and so do I. —Debbie Hurlbert, Howard, Ohio
50/63
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. The beautiful high, rich sponge cake is drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. —Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri
51/63
Easy Ice Cream Sundae Dessert
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In summer, nothing's better than ice cream sundaes. We kids couldn't wait to dig into this tempting dessert. It's cool and smooth with a ribbon of fudge inside. Whenever I make it for my family, I think of Mom. —Anne Heinonen, Howell, Michigan
52/63
Chocolate Toffee Crunchies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
From the buttery crust to the golden toffee, melted chocolate and chopped pecans, these bars are filled with Noel flavor. —Joni Crans, Woodhull, New York
53/63
Italian Wedding Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Of all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. —Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York
54/63
Fudgy Macaroon Bars
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Anyone with a sweet tooth will make a beeline for my dessert tray when these rich squares show up. They're attractive on the platter and delectable with fudge and coconut. —Beverly Zdurne, East Lansing, Michigan
55/63
Hidden Mint Morsels
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Is it a cookie or a candy? No matter which answer folks choose, they find these minty morsels yummy. The recipe makes so much that you can whip up tons of gifts at once. —Adina Skilbred, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
56/63
Cranberry-Orange Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother has had this recipe for years. I love it! These bars make great snacks, but can also be served for dessert. —Margaret Adelman, Bellingham, Minnesota
57/63
Cashew Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Some merry dairy snacking is guaranteed when you pass out these cashew-packed goodies! I found the recipe years ago in a flier promoting dairy products. It's been this farm wife's standby ever since. —June Lindquist, Hammond, Wisconsin
58/63
Peppermint Brownies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother encouraged me to enter these mint brownies in the county fair some years ago—and they earned top honors! They’re a delicious treat to serve during the holidays. —Marcy Greenblatt, Redding, California. Here is the list of counter desserts you can serve at your party.
59/63
Applesauce Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist applesauce cake recipe is a treasured heirloom passed down from my Grandma Stuit, who cooked for a family of 13 during the Depression. At reunions, it's the first dessert gone...including the crumbs! —Joanie Jager, Lynden, Washington
60/63
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Hawaiian nuts and melty morsels make a fantastic combination in these buttery white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee
61/63
Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
62/63
Kipplens
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My Great-Aunt Hilda makes this recipe every Christmas, and everybody loves them! Kipplens taste a lot like Mexican wedding cakes, but I like my aunt's version better. —Susan Bohannon, Kokomo, Indiana
63/63
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
